The Negro, long America's most disadvantaged citizen, has taken giant steps toward equality in the past two decades. In 1963, as civil rights organizations celebrate the centennial of the Emancipation Proclamation, the Negro no longer stands completely outside the mainstream of American life. One area in which he has chalked up considerable progress is that of employment. Gains made during World War II built a base for further progress; in the past 20 years the median annual income of Negro families has increased six times, compared to a quadrupling of white family income.

Instrumental in this progress has been the gradual rise of educational standards among Negroes, whether in integrated or segregated schools. But also of great importance have been federal and state efforts to broaden opportunities for Negroes, and a growing militancy on the part of Negroes themselves. This militancy has already contributed markedly to bringing closer the attainment of both educational and employment goals.

President Kennedy, six weeks after taking office, “dedicated” his administration to “the cause of equal opportunity in employment.” An executive order aimed to bring more effective action to eliminate racial discrimination in the employment and promotion policies of federal agencies and of holders of government contracts was issued March 6, 1961. Since then, growth of Negro employment and movement of Negroes into better-paying jobs in the federal service have been pronounced, while substantial progress of the same sort has been made in a segment of American industry. The policy of opening up new job opportunities for Negroes is not based solely on concern for equal rights. Vice President Johnson, head of the President's Committee on Equal Employment Opportunity, asserted on Jan. 6 that “Discrimination by Americans against fellow Americans costs more each year than the total of our budget for the exploration of outer space.”